On January 11, 1911, Thomas Elmer Duncan was born in Whitney, Texas. Tommy Duncan, as he would become known, went on to become perhaps the most-recognized voice in country swing. If you have ever enjoyed a country swing song, you recognize his voice, but you probably do not know his name.
Until fairly recently, I had incorrectly thought that Bob Wills sang lead on the classic country swing songs he recorded with the Texas Playboys. While band leader, fiddle-player, and entertainer Bob Wills is rightfully credited for his great work, the lead vocals on most of the songs you recognize were sung by Tommy Duncan. You may hear Bob Wills’s high-pitched voice throwing in an occasional “Ah-ha” or something like that, but it is Duncan who does the lead singing.
Some folks have been working to get Duncan the credit he deserves, and there is a film in the works about him called In the Shadow of a King – The Tommy Duncan Story. I look forward to watching the film, but until then, I hope this birthday post helps a little bit in spreading the praises of the voice of Tommy Duncan, who passed away in 1967. Check out Duncan singing lead on “Ida Red” in this performance with Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys in the movie Blazing the Western Trail.
Tommy Duncan did some work separate from the Texas Playboys, as he and Wills had an on-again off-again professional relationship reportedly due partly to Wills’s drinking issues. But both men are known for their peak work when they were together. Duncan, as part of The Texas Playboys, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as an “Early Influence” in 1999.
What is your favorite Tommy Duncan and Bob Willis collaboration? Leave your two cents in the comments.
I am part of the Duncan family via Emma Duncan Lane. My grandmother was Tommy’s first cousin and used to talk about him often. The Duncan family was real close. They had a family reunion every summer in Glen Rose, Texas. Ironically Tommy Duncan was named after her father who was also named Tom Duncan. She was born in Fort Spunky, Texas in 1903.
Thanks Phil, that’s interesting, and it’s good to hear the family was close. It sounds like your grandmother had some great stories. Thanks for the comment and take care!